Flushing attachment for operating tables



May 29, 1934 A. L. QRMSBEE FLUSHING ATTACHMENT FOR OPERATING TABLES Filed Oct. 10, 1932 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 29, 1934 UNITED STATES FLUSHING ATTACHMENT FOR OPERATING TABLES Arnold L. Ormsbee, Lodi, Calif.

Application October 10,

, 7 Claims.

This invention relates to mortuary operating tables and particularly represents improvements and modifications of the table flushing system shown in my Patent No. 1,900,255, dated March 7,

1933. The installation of the previous device required the drilling of the table and since modern tables are porcelain lined and cannot be drilled without destroying the porcelain, the flushing apparatus could only be mounted in connection with new tables drilled for the purpose before the porcelain was applied. One of the objects of the present invention therefore is to provide a flushing apparatus in the form of an attachment which may be applied to tables already in use without any alterations or work having to be done on the latter.

A further object is to arrange the flushing nozzles of sprays so that a flushing flow or pressure of water will be distributed evenly over the table '201 for practically its full length, while at the same time the upper end of the table is free of water so that the hair of an occupant of the table will not be wetted.

A further object of the invention is to produce 25 a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as' 302 will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mortuary table 353 equipped with my improved flushing attachment.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the table and flushing attachment. I

Referring now more particularly to the charac- 4'0jters of reference on the drawing, the table 1, which is of standard form and made of sheet metal, is provided all around with a relatively large raised rim bead or molding 2, there being a continuous gutter 3 all around and between '45 the bead and the table surface 1. A drain pipe 4 depends from the transverse portion of the gutter at its lower end and centrally of the table, said pipe being connected to a flexible hose 5 which extends to the drain hopper of the op- ?50. erating room.

My improved flushing attachment comprises a transverse pipe 6 extending along the gutter adjacent the head at the top of the table and connected at its ends to longitudinal pipes '7 which 5'5' extend to the lower end of the table and occupy 1932, Serial No. 636,965

similar portions in the side portions of the gutter; said pipes 7 being capped at their lower ends. A supply pipe 8 extends upwardly from the pipe 6 to oneside of its central plane and then over the bead 2 and down to a point below the bottom edge of the same, extending thence along and under the table to its lower end, to one side of the drain pipe 4. At its lower end said pipe 8 is connected to a length of flexible hose 9 which is adapted for removable connection to a source of supply. A control valve 10 is interposed in the pipe 8 preferably near the head end of the table. By means of this arrangement the table may be tilted or otherwise moved about as the operations may require without disturbing the water supply connections, while the flow of Water through the flushing attachment is controlled from the head end of the table as is desirable.

The side pipes 7 are provided with rows of spray perforations 11, which extend along said pipes from their lower ends and terminate some distance from the upper end of the table. The perforations are located centrally in the pipes and discharge horizontally toward each other, the pipes being set at such a level that their centers are a short distance above the level of the table or so that the sprays will be discharged onto said table with a transverse sweeping or flushing action.

The pipes 6 and 7 are removably supported at various points in their length by hangers. Each hanger consists of a hook-like spring strap 12 bent to engage and follow the contour of the rim bead 2 and formed on its inner lower end with an eye or sleeve 13 through which the corresponding pipe passes. On its outer end the strap is formed with a short in-turned extension 14 which engages the lower outer edge of the bead 2 and thus prevents undesired disengagement of the hanger from place.

At the lower end of the table a special hanger is provided for supporting the adjacent portion of the pipe 8. This hanger comprises a hooklike strap 15 engaging the bead 2 and depending outside the same, being formed on its lower end with an eye 16 which surrounds the pipe 8. A clamping bar 17 cooperates with the strap 15 to receive the outer lower end portion of the bead 2 therebetween, said bead being clamped in place by a bolt 18 connecting the strap and bar just below the bead.

It will therefore be seen that the flushing attachment may be easily and quickly applied to any standard table already in use, and that practically the entire surface of the table may be flushed with an even pressure when desired. The spray perforations are intentionally left out of the upper portions of the pipe '7 since it is not usually desired to wet the hair of the body occupying the table; and since the corresponding portion of the table is not apt to require flushing as much as the remainder the sprays are not actually necessary along such portion.

In order to allow a reasonably unobstructed cross flow of the sprays and a downward flow of the flushing water along the central area of the table when it is occupied by a body, I provide bars 19 to extend across the table at intervals. their ends with hooks or hangers 20 to slidably and removably engage the table bead 2, and holding the bars up from the table a short distance. These bars are adjusted by the operator to support the body at the heels, hips and shoulders, and thus hold these parts clear of the table so as not to obstruct the downward and crosswise fiow of water from the sprays.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as

defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a mortuary table, and. pipes extending along the sides of the table, said pipes having spray perforations positioned so that water passing through said perforations will be discharged transversely onto the table.

2. A flushing device for a mortuary table com- These bars are rigid, and. formed at of the table, and a supply pipe connected to said transverse pipe, said supply pipe extending over the rim of the table and then down to a point below the bottom of said rim, and then along and under the table to the foot end of the same.

4. A flushing attachment for a mortuary table, said table having a gutter about the same and a raised rim bead about the gutter, said at tachment including transversely discharging spray pipes extending along the side portions of the gutter adjacent the bead, and hangers engaging and depending from the bead and supporting the pipes at intervals in their length.

5 A flushing attachment for a mortuary table, said table having a gutter about the same and a raised rim bead about the gutter, said attachment including transversely discharging spray pipes extending along the side portions of the gutter adjacent the bead, and a transverse pipe connecting said spray pipes at one end of the table and lying adjacent the bead in the corresponding portion of the gutter, a valved supply pipe connected to said transverse pipe, and hangers supported by said bead and engaging the spray and transverse pipes at intervals to maintain them in position relative to the bead and table.

6. A flushing attachment for a mortuary table, said table having a gutter about the same and a raised rim bead about the gutter, said attachment including transversely discharging spray pipes extending along the side portions of the gutter adjacent the bead, a transverse pipe connecting said spray pipes at one end of the table and lying adjacent the bead in the corresponding portionof the gutter, means supporting said pipes in position, a supply pipe connected to the transverse pipe and extending thence over the bead, down and along and under the table to its opposite end, and a hanger engaging and depending from the corresponding portion of the bead and supporting the supply i e.

'7. A flushing device for a mortuary table having raised side walls comprising transversely discharging spray pipes extending along the table just inwardly of the, walls, a transverse pipe connecting said spray pipes at one end of the table, and a supply pipeconnected to said transverse pipe.

ARNOLD L. ORMSBEE. 

